Kentucky
Disclaimer: Season dates are gathered on a best-effort basis and may contain errors or be outdated. Always verify dates, bag limits, and regulations directly with Kentucky KDFWR before hunting.
Proposed 2026-27
federal openings
in Kentucky
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing hunting and fishing access changes at 1 station in Kentucky. Public comment closes June 26, 2026.
Deer
White-tailed Deer
Youth-only Firearms
Oct. 10, 2026 — Oct. 18, 2026
White-tailed Deer
Special Season (CWD Surveillance Zone)
Sept. 27, 2025 — Sept. 28, 2025
Zone: CWD Surveillance Zone counties only
White-tailed Deer
Youth/Senior Crossbow
Sept. 5, 2026 — Jan. 18, 2027
White-tailed Deer
Early Muzzleloader
Oct. 17, 2026 — Oct. 18, 2026
White-tailed Deer
Crossbow
Sept. 19, 2026 — Jan. 18, 2027
White-tailed Deer
Modern Firearms
Nov. 14, 2026 — Nov. 29, 2026
White-tailed Deer
Special Season
Sept. 27, 2025 — Sept. 28, 2025
Zone: CWD Surveillance Zone counties only
White-tailed Deer
Archery
Sept. 5, 2026 — Jan. 18, 2027
White-tailed Deer
Free Youth Weekend
Dec. 26, 2026 — Dec. 27, 2026
White-tailed Deer
Late Muzzleloader
Dec. 11, 2026 — Dec. 20, 2026
Turkey
Wild Turkey
Fall Shotgun
Oct. 24, 2026 — Dec. 11, 2026
Wild Turkey
Spring General Season
Apr. 18, 2026 — May 10, 2026
Wild Turkey
Fall Archery
Sept. 5, 2026 — Jan. 18, 2027
Wild Turkey
Fall Crossbow
Oct. 1, 2026 — Dec. 31, 2026
Wild Turkey
Spring Youth
Apr. 4, 2026 — Apr. 5, 2026
Bear
Black Bear
Archery/Crossbow
Oct. 24, 2026 — Oct. 26, 2026
Zone: Bear Zone 1
Black Bear
Hunt with Dogs
Oct. 19, 2026 — Oct. 23, 2026
Zone: Bear Zone 1
Black Bear
Firearms
Dec. 12, 2026 — Dec. 16, 2026
Zone: Bear Zone 2 and 3
Black Bear
Archery/Crossbow (September)
Sept. 19, 2026 — Oct. 2, 2026
Zone: Bear Zone 3
Black Bear
Archery/Crossbow
Oct. 24, 2026 — Oct. 28, 2026
Zone: Bear Zone 2 and 3
Black Bear
Hunt with Dogs
Oct. 19, 2026 — Nov. 6, 2026
Zone: Bear Zone 2 and 3
Black Bear
Firearms
Dec. 12, 2026 — Dec. 14, 2026
Zone: Bear Zone 1
Black Bear
Chase-only
June 1, 2026 — Sept. 30, 2026
Zone: All Bear Zones
Elk
Elk
Firearms - Cow (antlerless)
Nov. 28, 2026 — Jan. 6, 2027
Zone: Elk Zone
Elk
Archery/Crossbow (either sex)
Sept. 12, 2026 — Dec. 11, 2026
Zone: Elk Zone
Elk
Firearms - Bull (antlered)
Sept. 26, 2026 — Oct. 7, 2026
Zone: Elk Zone
Elk
Youth-only Quota
Zone: Elk Zone
Waterfowl
Canada Goose
September Season
Sept. 16, 2026 — Sept. 30, 2026
Zone: Eastern September Canada Goose Zone
Canada Goose
September Season
Sept. 1, 2026 — Sept. 15, 2026
Zone: Western September Canada Goose Zone
Canada/Cackling Goose, White-fronted Goose & Brant
General
Nov. 26, 2026 — Feb. 15, 2027
Duck, Coot, Merganser
General
Nov. 26, 2026 — Jan. 31, 2027
Light Goose
Conservation Order
Feb. 16, 2027 — March 31, 2027
Snow Goose (including Ross' Goose)
General
Nov. 26, 2026 — Feb. 15, 2027
Teal
General
Sept. 19, 2026 — Sept. 23, 2026
Waterfowl
Youth-only
Nov. 21, 2026 — Feb. 14, 2027
Waterfowl
Military/Veteran-only
Nov. 22, 2026 — Feb. 8, 2027
Waterfowl
Falconry
Nov. 26, 2026 — Feb. 28, 2027
Wood Duck
General
Sept. 19, 2026 — Sept. 23, 2026
Dove
Mourning Dove
General
Sept. 1, 2026 — Jan. 10, 2027
Pheasant
Pheasant
Quota Hunt
Dec. 4, 2026 — Dec. 6, 2026
Zone: Clay WMA
Pheasant
Quota Hunt
Dec. 4, 2026 — Dec. 6, 2026
Zone: Yellowbank WMA
Pheasant
Quota Hunt
Nov. 20, 2026 — Nov. 22, 2026
Zone: Green River WMA
Quail
Quail
Hunting
Nov. 16, 2026 — Feb. 10, 2027
Zone: Western Zone
Quail
Hunting
Nov. 1, 2026 — Jan. 31, 2027
Zone: Eastern Zone
Grouse
Grouse
Hunting
Nov. 1, 2026 — Feb. 28, 2027
Zone: Grouse Hunting Zone
Ruffed Grouse
Hunting
Nov. 1, 2026 — Feb. 28, 2027
Zone: Grouse Hunting Zone
Rabbit
Rabbit
Hunting
Nov. 1, 2026 — Jan. 31, 2027
Zone: Eastern Zone
Rabbit
Hunting
Nov. 16, 2026 — Feb. 10, 2027
Zone: Western Zone
Rabbit
Trapping
Nov. 16, 2026 — Feb. 10, 2027
Zone: Western Zone
Rabbit
Trapping
Nov. 16, 2026 — Jan. 31, 2027
Zone: Eastern Zone
Squirrel
Squirrel
Fall Trapping
Nov. 16, 2026 — Feb. 28, 2027
Squirrel
Fall Hunting
Aug. 15, 2026 — Feb. 28, 2027
Squirrel
Spring
May 16, 2026 — June 19, 2026
Furbearer
Bobcat
Hunting
Nov. 21, 2026 — Feb. 28, 2027
Furbearer
Falconry
Sept. 1, 2026 — Mar. 30, 2027
Furbearer
Trapping
Nov. 16, 2026 — Feb. 28, 2027
Furbearer
Free Youth Hunting & Trapping Week
Dec. 26, 2026 — Jan. 1, 2027
Groundhog
General
Groundhog
Hunting
Opossum
Hunting
Oct. 1, 2026 — Feb. 28, 2027
Raccoon
Hunting
Oct. 1, 2026 — Feb. 28, 2027
River Otter, Muskrat, Mink, Beaver, Red Fox, Gray Fox, Weasel & Striped Skunk
Hunting
Nov. 16, 2026 — Feb. 28, 2027
Small Game
Small Game
Free Youth Hunting & Trapping Week
Dec. 26, 2026 — Jan. 1, 2027
Small Game
Falconry
Sept. 1, 2026 — Mar. 30, 2027
Migratory Birds
Common & Purple Gallinule
General
Sept. 1, 2026 — Nov. 9, 2026
Crow
General
Sept. 1, 2026 — Feb. 28, 2027
Dove
General
Sept. 1, 2026 — Jan. 10, 2027
Sandhill Crane
Quota Hunt
Dec. 7, 2026 — Jan. 31, 2027
Snipe
General
Sept. 16, 2026 — Jan. 31, 2027
Virginia & Sora Rail
General
Sept. 1, 2026 — Nov. 9, 2026
Woodcock
General
Oct. 24, 2026 — Dec. 9, 2026
Coyote
Coyote
Hunting
Coyote
General (Year-round)